Ramallah: Israeli security forces were forced to close Al Aqsa holy compound on Sunday, preventing tens of thousands of Israeli colonists from entering the mosque to celebrate the Jewish festival of Sukkot.
The closure was forced by the unprecedented number of Palestinians, both Jerusalemites and Palestinians in 1948 areas, who poured into the holy site to defend the compound after Israeli security forces unexpectedly opened the mosque for the first time to Palestinians.
Tens of thousands of Jewish worshippers arrived at the Al Buraq Wall to celebrate their festival at Al Aqsa holy compound after the Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) Faithful Movement and several other Orthodox Jewish movements called on them to visit Al Aqsa to perform their prayers and rituals on the holy site as part of their festival. The organisations urged Israeli security forces to escort the visitors.
On the other side, thousands of Palestinians in 1948 areas poured into the holy shrine to defend it from the Israeli colonists. Tens of buses offered free transport to Palestinians in 1948 areas — who played a central role in forcing the Israeli security forces to seal off Al Magharibah gate in the face of the colonists.
Fakhri Abu Diab, a member of the Higher Committee in Defence of (Occupied) Jerusalem, said that the Israeli security forces came to the conclusion that the Palestinians were ready to defend the holy shrine at any price.
“The security forces were sure they and the colonists would suffer serious damage in the event they allowed the colonists into the mosque,” he told Gulf News.
The Israeli security forces told the colonists that Al Magharibah gate had been closed on security grounds.
Streets surrounding the old town were closed off by the security forces, which announced they were ready to preserve peace and security for all visitors to Al Aqsa Mosque.
The colonists expressed their frustration and disappointment with their security forces’ inability to grant them access to the holy shrine, especially during a Jewish festival in an official letter to the Israeli Police in occupied Jerusalem.
On Monday tens of thousands of Jewish worshippers will arrive at Al Buraq Wall and Al Magharibah gate is expected to be opened.
“During the Jewish festivals we suffer tremendously and are restricted in terms of freedom of movement,” said Abu Diab.
The Sukkot festival will last until nightfall on Wednesday. Palestinians are ready to defend their holy mosque at any price. “The general conditions in occupied East Jerusalem are tough and are expected to become even tougher and more boiling,” said Abu Diab.
